Conversations with the Inspiring Meg Froelich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meg Froelich.

Meg, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a former teacher at the high school and college levels and a documentary filmmaker. I have produced dozens of episodes of BIOGRAPHY, AMERICAN MASTERS and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE among other documentaries for PBS and A&E. We completed the documentary film Strong Sisters: Elected Women in Colorado in 2016. I have been active in my community as a parent, advocate and fundraiser for our local public schools. Politically I have been the Campaign Manager for several State legislative races and served two terms on Greenwood Village City Council prior to joining the State House in January 2018.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After almost two decades of supporting, recruiting and training people (particularly women) to run for office, I ran for the State House in 2016 and lost in a Primary. During the campaign I was criticized for leaving Colorado when my (then) husband pursued a job opportunity in California. I have studied the subject of women in elected office from an academic perspective for almost three decades and was in the midst of making a documentary about elected women in Colorado when I ran for the State Legislature. At that moment, I was living the statistics, I was living the research and I was facing the challenges I had chronicled. As many women before me I was being held to a standard which required a dedication to my profession, my family and my community while raising three children, caring for aging parents, trying to save a difficult marriage, and moving across country. It was only after a conscious practice of counting my blessings and practicing active gratitude that I arrived at a place where I could move forward after losing the election, my marriage, and my mother in quick succession. It sounds corny but I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to serve in Legislature now.

Katherine Hepburn spike at my college graduation and advised us that we could not, in fact, have both a family and a career. That was over 30 years ago. I feel hopeful for a different future. We are seeing real change at this very moment. We have legislators with young children, we have the second legislator in Colorado’s history to give birth during session and these realities are moving the agenda towards positive change to allow women the same opportunities to balance family and career.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
In my work at the legislature I am informed by deeply held beliefs about justice, inclusion, tolerance and acceptance. I have sworn an oath to the Constitution and I am ever mindful of my covenant with the laws and people of Colorado. I do believe “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” So that translates into work in preserving our air, land and water. It means that I fight for working families, criminal justice reform, and for the preservation of reproductive rights. I am dedicated to ensure the dignity and access to services of the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community. We have made great progress with LGBTQ rights and we must continue to do so. In Colorado, we are able to work in a bipartisan manner to really accomplish positive change for our State. I’m proud of my part in preserving our Colorado way of life!

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I grew up overseas and that has reinforced my love of country and appreciation for our democracy. I was blessed with a mother who was a fierce feminist and by parents who provided amazing opportunities for me. I had a developmentally disabled brother who passed away when we were teenagers which helped me to empathize with the challenges others face. Between moving many times as a child and several more times as a trailing spouse I learned the sometimes difficult lessons of creating a happy career, home and family life in a new community.

Contact Info:

• Website: FroelichforColorado.com
• Phone: 730-570-6337
• Email: RepFroelichHD3@gmail.com
• Facebook: @RepFroelich
• Twitter: @RepMegFroe

Image Credit:
Zeke Clark, Beverly Breakstone – volunteers

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